I read about this on Big Footy and managed to find the article from the Adelaide Advertiser see below:
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Knights calls it a day
By DOUG ROBERTSON
18sep04
PORT Adelaide Magpies coach Matthew Knights quit unexpectedly yesterday with one year to run on his contract.
The football philosophies of the former Richmond captain and those of the Magpies did not fit so they agreed to split, Knights said.
Knights told the Magpies he had no alternative offers to coach but he felt it was in the best interests of both parties to cut short his contract at Alberton.
"It's something I've been considering for two or three weeks now and it's just in regards to myself and the club's differing philosophies in regard to the club moving forward next year. It's a simple as that," Knights said.
"I feel really comfortable with my decision and comfortable with moving on."
Knights confirmed he intended to continue coaching and he is likely to be keenly sought-after as an assistant coach by several AFL clubs.
"I'm very comfortable living in Adelaide," said Knights, who owns a house here.
"You're really hoping for all sorts of approaches and if I am approached by those types of clubs I'd have to consider it."
Club president David Basheer declined to elaborate on the differences between Knights and the club's philosophies but Basheer was firm the group of players Knights helped shape would stay at Alberton next year.
"It's a young group and a pretty dedicated group and I'd be pretty surprised if that group didn't stay together," Basheer said. "While the season was disappointing one thing we have done is reduce the average age of the playing group from 26 years to 21 and they're going to be the basis of our next era."
Knights joined the Magpies two years ago as football manager and assistant coach after 279 games with Richmond.
He succeeded favourite son Stephen Williams in the senior role after last season and took the Magpies to sixth place this year. Port chief executive Matthew Richardson said the management committee would meet on Monday to decided a strategy for finding a replacement coach.
http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/footy03/story_page/0,8747,10802103%255E21546,00.html
